The Couch Critics

The Couch Critics
  • 5.0 (19)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Daily

The Couch Critics is your laid-back guide to movies and TV shows that deserve your attention—or maybe don’t. Nathan, along with a rotating door of eclectic co-hosts, dives deep into storytelling, character development, and cinematic style with a sharp eye and a wry sense of humor. Whether it’s a blockbuster hit, a hidden gem, or a cult classic, Nathan’s relatable approach ensures every episode feels like a cozy chat with a friend who just happens to love film. Perfect for casual watchers and cinephiles alike, The Couch Critics bring thoughtful critique without the fluff. Grab your favorite snack, settle in, and let Nathan and friends guide you through the world of screen entertainment.

  1. 4d ago

    Why A Mewtwo And Genesect Team-Up Falls Flat

    "Send us a Text!" Mewtwo plus Genesect should be a slam dunk: two human-made Pokemon, a city under siege, and a finale packed with legendary-level destruction. But sometimes a movie can do everything “big” and still feel weirdly empty, and that’s exactly what I wrestle with as I review Pokemon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened. If you’ve ever watched a franchise entry that looked great yet left you feeling nothing, you’ll know the exact kind of disappointment I’m unpacking here.  I talk through what works for me first, because there are real strengths. The animation blend and the glossy visuals hold up, the urban setting is a fun change of pace, and Genesect’s upgraded, robotic vibe is legitimately cool on paper and on screen. The problem is that the story doesn’t build the kind of wonder and emotional connection I want from a Pokemon movie. The plot energy feels like a runaround, and even the big action beats can’t replace stakes that make me care.  Then I dig into my biggest sticking point: talking Pokemon and heavy telepathy. I know some fans love it, but for me it strips away the classic Pokemon charm where emotion comes through sound, body language, and restraint. I also get into why this portrayal of Mewtwo doesn’t hit the same as the original, from the intimidation factor to the sense of presence, and how that hurts the whole movie since Mewtwo should be the anchor.  I close with my rating out of six Pokeballs and tease what’s next, including a chaotic Cinema Sunday lineup and a friend-filled conversation I’m genuinely hyped for. Subscribe to Couch Critics, share this with a Pokemon fan who’ll argue about it, and leave a review with your take: should Pokemon talk in full sentences or never at all? Follow us: Facebook - Couch Critic Podcast Instagram - @thecouchcriticpod

    11 min

  2. Jun 14

    Why Diancie And Volcanion Rank So Low

    "Send us a Text!" Two Pokemon movies kicked off my worst-to-best ranking season, and they immediately raised a question I didn’t expect to be so decisive: when a Pokemon can talk for most of the movie, does it deepen the story or break the spell? I’m Nathan, and on The Couch Critics I start our Pokemon journey at the bottom of the list with “Diancie and the Cocoon of Danger or something” plus the Volcanion movie, then I get honest about why both left me cold even with Ash Ketchum and Pikachu on screen. With Diancie, the premise centers on a Pokemon whose power is literally creating diamonds, which turns the plot into a long chase where everyone wants to capture the “diamond maker.” The problem is clarity and payoff: the story feels confusing, the stakes don’t sharpen, and the resolution leans on another big Pokemon swooping in to save the day instead of letting the main character earn the ending. I also talk about what I did enjoy, like the familiar voice acting energy and the way these films mix computer animation with hand-drawn animation. Volcanion gets points for a slightly more intriguing setup, especially the mega evolution angle and the idea that power can be forced without a true trainer bond. But the emotional center hinges on a sacrifice that doesn’t stick, and that choice drains the impact of the character’s shift from anti-human to protector. I wrap up with Pokeball ratings (1.5 out of 5 for both), tease next week’s “Pokemon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened,” and share where to follow what we’re doing next. If you like Pokemon movie reviews, rankings, and hot takes on franchise rules, subscribe, share the show, and leave a review, then tell me: do you want Pokemon to talk, or should they stick to saying their names? Follow us: Facebook - Couch Critic Podcast Instagram - @thecouchcriticpod

    7 min

  3. May 31

    Season 6 Premiere: Summer Movie Grab Bag

    "Send us a Text!" Summer releases are here, and we’re coming in hot for the season six premiere of The Couch Critics. I’m joined by returning guest Lexi and first-timer JP, and the three of us waste absolutely no time turning a casual catch-up into a full-on debate about what makes a movie worth your ticket: story, nostalgia, performances, rewatch value, and whether it’s actually fun when the credits roll.  We start with the Mario Galaxy sequel, where one of us loves the “it feels like playing the game” vibe and another can’t stand how little plot there is. From there we jump to The Devil Wears Prada 2, digging into why a sequel can work as drama even when the comedy falls flat, and how your love for the original changes the way you grade what comes next. If you like spoiler-friendly conversations and honest star ratings, you’re in the right place.  Then things get weird in the best way: Sheep Detectives delivers a wholesome murder mystery with a stacked voice cast, followed by a deeper question around the Michael Jackson biopic Michael and what “sanitized” means in the era of modern musical biopics. We wrap with a split-screen argument on Mortal Kombat 2 and a rare moment of agreement on Mandalorian and Grogu, where we ask why a Star Wars theatrical release can feel like a Disney+ season without a real ending.  If you enjoyed the chaos, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave us a review. Which movie do you think we were most wrong about? Follow us: Facebook - Couch Critic Podcast Instagram - @thecouchcriticpod

    44 min

  4. May 24

    Christmas Movie Marathon Season 5 Finale

    "Send us a Text!" A season finale shouldn’t feel like homework, so we end our Christmas movie journey with a true mixed bag and some honest ratings. After nearly 100 “Christmas” movies, I’m down to the final stretch and it turns into a great litmus test for what actually makes a holiday movie work: setting, music, message, and that hard-to-define warm feeling people chase every December. First up is the big argument starter: Die Hard. It’s set at Christmas, it’s got carols, and it’s built around a Christmas party, but does that make it a Christmas movie or just a perfect action movie that happens to be in December? I give it a Christmas score and a general rating, and I explain why it’s so rewatchable even if it doesn’t hit “cozy.” Then I pivot to A Boy Called Christmas, a Netflix holiday fantasy that surprised me in the best way, and Scrooged, Bill Murray’s comedic take on A Christmas Carol that still sticks the landing with a real character transformation. To close it out, I bring in an older recording of my Noelle review so you can hear the unfiltered take without me forcing a rewatch. We talk about what the movie seems to be aiming for, why it didn’t land for me, and how modern Christmas movies handle culture and religion in quick, sometimes awkward, throwaway moments. Then I tease what’s next for The Couch Critics: season six kicks off with new movie talk and a nostalgia-fueled Pokemon movie journey. If you enjoyed the Christmas movie reviews and the Die Hard debate, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more holiday movie nerds can find us. Follow us: Facebook - Couch Critic Podcast Instagram - @thecouchcriticpod

    26 min

  5. May 10

    Four Christmas Movies On Trial

    "Send us a Text!" The fastest way to start an argument at Christmas is to ask one question: what counts as a Christmas movie? Nathan brings Mitch on the mic, and between two theatre teachers crawling toward the end of the school year, we tear into four very different picks from the ongoing Christmas watchlist. One of them is a Disney favorite that somehow has almost zero Christmas in it, which leads to a surprisingly serious talk about nostalgia, story logic, and why some “holiday staples” don’t actually earn the label. We start with The Parent Trap (Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid) and put it through a real Christmas-movie test, then pivot to a small, sweet surprise: Angela’s Christmas on Netflix. It’s short, animated, and genuinely heartfelt, built around a child’s simple mission to keep baby Jesus warm. If you’ve been hunting for family-friendly Christmas movies that work for kids and adults, we explain why this one hits so cleanly. Then Mitch goes full fan mode on The Muppet Christmas Carol, and it’s hard not to join him. We talk about why Michael Caine’s straight-faced Scrooge makes the Muppets even funnier, how the narration connects to Dickens’ original text, and why the songs feel like legit musical theater. We wrap with Ron Howard’s live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas, where Jim Carrey’s performance and the bullying-based backstory earn praise, even as we debate the more adult jokes and language. Listen for ratings, watchlist tips, and the one holiday classic we both call a perfect 5/5. If you enjoy movie reviews, Christmas film debates, and holiday movie recommendations, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review with your definitive pick: what’s your true must-watch Christmas movie? Follow us: Facebook - Couch Critic Podcast Instagram - @thecouchcriticpod

    27 min

  6. Apr 20

    A Wholesome Double Feature

    "Send us a Text!" A movie can feel like hot cocoa and still have nothing to do with Christmas, and that’s the line I’m testing today. I’m flying solo as I review two comfort-heavy favorites from very different corners of the movie universe: Paddington (with a big spotlight on Paddington 2) and the classic musical White Christmas. Along the way, I separate “holiday mood” from “holiday movie,” because those are not the same thing, especially when you’re picking something truly family friendly. I dig into why the Paddington series is one of the cleanest, most wholesome set of family films you can put on with kids, even if parts of the franchise stumble. I also share why Paddington 3 didn’t work for me, from the recast mom to pulling the story away from London’s cozy intimacy. Then I go all in on Paddington 2 as a five-out-of-five masterpiece, driven by a heartwarming family unit and a hilarious Hugh Grant performance, while still giving it a blunt zero-out-of-five as a Christmas movie rating. From there, I shift to the quintessential Christmas classic: White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. We talk iconic songs, quick comedy, the charm of old Hollywood, and the honest reality that some jokes don’t land the same way today. It still earns a five for Christmas spirit and a near-perfect overall score in my book, and it remains a must-watch tradition in our house. If you love movie review podcasts, holiday movie lists, or you’re hunting for safe picks for family movie night, hit play, subscribe, and share this with a friend, then leave a review and tell me: what’s your non-Christmas movie that still feels like Christmas? Follow us: Facebook - Couch Critic Podcast Instagram - @thecouchcriticpod

    9 min

  7. Apr 12

    Two Holiday Films Reviewed Fast And Fair

    "Send us a Text!" I fell asleep during a Christmas cartoon and I’m not even sorry. Santa’s Apprentice has the ingredients for a sweet holiday story, but the pacing drags, the premise feels oddly put together, and the whole thing lands more “background noise” than family movie night. I break down what doesn’t work, why it bored me, and where it ends up on my Christmas rating scale versus my general movie scale.  Then we jump to the total surprise of the week: Tokyo Godfathers. It’s an anime film I didn’t expect to like, especially after spotting a few modern “check the box” moments that had me skeptical going in. But the story won me over with momentum, heart, and a fascinating chain of events that many people would call coincidence. I talk about how the movie frames those connections and why it left me thinking about providence, purpose, and whether God orchestrates our steps even when life looks messy.  You’ll also hear my final ratings for both movies, plus a look ahead as we near the end of this massive Christmas list. Next up, I’m watching Paddington 2 (one of my all-time favorites) and I’m reviewing the classic White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. If you like honest Christmas movie reviews, anime recommendations, and quick-hit ratings that help you choose what to watch, subscribe, share the show, and leave a review. What’s the best Christmas movie you’ve watched this year? Follow us: Facebook - Couch Critic Podcast Instagram - @thecouchcriticpod

    4 min

  8. Apr 5

    What Makes A Holiday Movie Worth Rewatching

    "Send us a Text!" Five movies in one run sounds like a terrible idea until you’re hanging out with friends who will actually argue about what makes a holiday film work. We’re back on Couch Critics with Nathan, Lexi, and Katy, and we jump from Netflix comfort-watch territory to 90s chaos to Pixar weirdness without stopping to catch our breath. It’s a fast, honest holiday movie review session where “I’d watch it every year” collides with “please never make me sit through that again.” We start with The Princess Switch, which is basically a modern Princess and the Pauper style swap with Vanessa Hudgens doing double duty. Lexi defends the fun and familiarity, Nathan is not buying it, and we all end up asking the same question: when does a cozy Christmas rom-com trope become just recycled storytelling? Then we hit Jingle All the Way, the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic that’s cheesy, quotable, and somehow still nails the frantic parent energy that shows up every December. From there we switch gears with Hoppers, a newer Pixar-style movie with environmental themes, inventive ideas, and a few moments creepy enough that we debate whether it’s actually safe for younger kids. The Snowman brings the opposite vibe, a quiet animated short with no dialogue that’s sweet, simple, and polarizing. Finally, we go all-in on The Holiday, including the big split: Jack Black and Kate Winslet feel real, while the Cameron Diaz and Jude Law romance sparks some serious side-eye. We wrap by rating every movie twice, once as a film and once as a Christmas movie, then tease what we’re watching next. Subscribe, share the episode with your favorite holiday-movie person, and leave a review if you like the show. Which of these five gets your yearly rewatch? Follow us: Facebook - Couch Critic Podcast Instagram - @thecouchcriticpod

    23 min
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5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

The Couch Critics is your laid-back guide to movies and TV shows that deserve your attention—or maybe don’t. Nathan, along with a rotating door of eclectic co-hosts, dives deep into storytelling, character development, and cinematic style with a sharp eye and a wry sense of humor. Whether it’s a blockbuster hit, a hidden gem, or a cult classic, Nathan’s relatable approach ensures every episode feels like a cozy chat with a friend who just happens to love film. Perfect for casual watchers and cinephiles alike, The Couch Critics bring thoughtful critique without the fluff. Grab your favorite snack, settle in, and let Nathan and friends guide you through the world of screen entertainment.

Information

  • Creator
    The Couch Critics
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    342
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Couch Critics
  • Show Website
    The Couch Critics